Method of and machine for marking leather or the like



July 5, 1938. H. E. KLEINSCHMIDT 2,122,945

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR MARKING LEATHER OR THE LIKE Filed Jan. 24, 1936 l5 Sheets-Sheet l la figg.;

o o o 037 036 62a o o o 045 46 @I MMP/? July 5, 1938. H. E. KLEINSCHMIDT METHOD CF ANDMACHINE FOR MARKING LEATHER OR THE LIKE Filed Jan. 24, 1936 13 Sheets-Sheet 2 .7n van i0 r:

` July 5, 193s.

H. E. KLElNscHMxD-r 2,122,945

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR MARKING` LEATHER OR THE LIKE Filed Jan. 24. 1936 15 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 5, 1938. H, E. KLEINSCHMIDT 2,122,945

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR MARKING LEATHER OR THE LIKE Filed Jan. 24I 1936 Javzzzzor.'

`l5 Sheets-Sheet 4 n H. E. KLEINSCHMIDT July 5, 1938.

' METHOD CF' AND MACHINE FOR MARKING LEATHER OR THE LIKE Fil'ed Jan. 24, 1936 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 5, 1938.` H. E. KLEfNscHMlDT 2,122,945

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR MARKING LEATHER QR THE LIKE File@ Jian. 24. 193e 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 NWN NWN figli 14 Jul;`r 5, 1938. H. E. KLELNscHMlDT 2,122,945

METHOD OF ND MACHINE FOR MARKING LEATHER OR THE LIKE Filed Jan. 24. 193e 1s sheets-sheet 7 7n van for.-

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,July 5, 1938. H. E. KLElNscHMlDT 2,122,945

METHOD .01%` AND MACHINE FOR MARKING' LEATHER OR THE LIKE Filed Ja'n. 24. 1956 `l5 Sheets-Sheet 9 July 5, 1938.` H. E. KLElNscHMlDT 2,122,945

METH'OD CF ANDMACHINE FOR MARKING LEATHER 0R THEy LIKE Filed Jan. 24, 1936 13 Sheets-Sheet 10 .712 van for.'

, July 5, 1938.

H. E. KLEINVSCHMIDT METHOD OF AND MACHINE kFOR MARKING LEATHER OR THE LIKE I Filed Jan. 24. 19346 13 Sheets-Sheet ll EN H ww @N July 5, 1938. H. E. KLElNscHMlDT l 2,122,945

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR MARKING' LEATHER ORl THE LIKE Filed Jan. 24. 19256 13 Sheets-Sheet l2 `Iuly 5, 1938. H.- E. KLEINSCHMIDT 2,122,945

MEI'IDv OF AND MACHINE FOR MARKlNG LEATHER OR THE LIKE Filed Jan.' 24. 193e i5 sheets-sheet 13 f1.2 22E-afar:

Patented July 5, 1938 METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR. MARKING LEATHER R THE LIKE Hans Erich Kleinschmidt, Berlin, Germany Application January 24, V1936, Serial No. 60,687 In Germany January 26, 1935 39 Claims.

My invention relates to machines for determining the thickness of sheet material, especially large pieces of leather at a plurality of points and for applying to the material at the plac'es in question the particulars of the thickness ascertained.

Machines of this type are known in which the sheet material is placed upon a support and is brought into contact with a reciprocable feeler, which is operatively connected to a type carrier through a step-up transmission mechanism, which displacesthe type carrier proportionately to the distance of the feeler from the support on which the sheet material lies, in such a manner that the position of the type carrier is altered as the distance oi the feeler from the support varies due to differences in the thickness of the material, the displacement of the type carrier being a multiple of that of the feeler owing to the stepup transmission of the movement of the feeler. The type carrier is arranged over a printing point which lies closely adjacent to thepoint at which the feeler comes into 'contactI with the material being' measured (measuring point), and is adjustcd by the feeler through the said mechanism, so that the particular type corresponding to the distance of the feeler from the support and to the thickness of the material being measured at the point in question is caused to lie over the printing point. The type in question is caused to make the impression upon the material being measured by lowering the type carrier. If the machine is provided with a plurality of such aggregates comprising a feeler, a type carrier, :z5 a transmission mechanism operatively connecting the feeler to the type carrier and a printing device for lowering the type carrier arrangedin a series transversely to the direction of feed of the material being measured and the printing devices are brought into operation at suitable successive intervals, then during its passage through the machine, the material being measured is printed upon at various points distributed over its surface with figures or other parpoints in question.

The machine forming the subject of the present invention differs from the machines aboveticulars of the thickness of the material at the` means of the improvements acording to the invention, the machine is rendered particularly suitable for the treatment of all kinds of leather, even the heaviest and most refractory sole leathers. Further, the accuracy of measurement and the speed of operation is improved and a more compact arrangement of the bank of impression points is rendered possible. On the other hand, the cost of manufacture of a machine according to the invention is smaller than that of the known machines in spite of its special advantages. Other advantages and features of the invention will be disclosed in the description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 show two diierent ways of marking the skins in plan, while the other figures show various constructional forms of the machines provided with the improvements according to the invention as well as details thereof; Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the machine in a front view and in a side view; Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate in an enlarged scale the actual measuring and printing device in a side view and in a vertical section according to the line 6--6 of Fig. 5. Figs. '7 to 11 illustrate details of the measuring and printing device, which details will be vfully explained in the following specification.

Fig. 12 illustrates another possibility of execution.

Figs. 13 to 16 represent a third mode of execution. Figs. 13 and 14 show one of the measuring and marking aggregates in the manner of illustration corresponding with Figs. 6 and 5 respectively, with the difference that the section shown in Fig. 13 is shifted somewhat farther to the left and illustrated as a view seen from the left. Figs. 15 and 16 correspond in the manner of illustration with the Figs. 3 and 4 respectively. Figs. 17 to 21 show a special embodiment of a machine, in which the measuring and marking or printing devices are brought near to the goods to be measured, said goods being maintained in repose during the measuring and marking operation. Figs. 17 and 18 show the respectiye machine as a whole in a side-view, and in a top-view respectively. Figs. 19 and 20 illustrate the actual measuring and marking devices in an enlarged scale; Fig. 19 shows especially horizontal sections in the levels indicated by the lines II, II--II, III--IIIand IV--IV of Figs. 20 and 21, such individual sections being designated in Fig. 19 with I, II, III and IV respectively. Figs. 20 and 21 illustrate one of the measuring and marking devices in two vertical axial sections Y chine.

directed rectangularly to each other and in sideview respectively, Fig. 22 shows a detail.

Figs. 23 to 29 illustrate a further mode of carrying the invention to practice. Fig. 23 is a sideview of this machine as a whole, Fig. 24 is a front view; Fig. 25 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale of the upper part of the machine according to the line lII--III of Fig. 244; Fig. 25 shows a detail; Fig. 26 is a vertical section through one lof the measuring and marking aggregates in the plane of IV of Fig. 23; Figs. 26a and 26h show details of the printing bolt; Fig. 2'7 is a horizontal section according to the line V--V and Fig. 2 8 a section according to the line VI-VI of Fig. 26; Fig. 28a shows a detail, and Fig. 29 is a. diagram of connections.

' Figs. 30 to 35 illustrate a last formV of the ma- Fig. 35 shows in`a more conventional the slides is traversed by a strong shaft 19 which serves as a support for three oscillating frames l 20, 2| and 22. These frames the side-cheeks of manner and small scale the machine as a whole frame comprising essentially two lateral supports or brackets I, I and of a transverse brace 2 connecting the upper ends of the said supports with each other. The supports I which are moreover mutually reinforced by several draw-rods 4 are provided at theirupper ends with bearings 5,A

5 for th reception of pivots 6, 5 of a cylinder 1 serving as a support for the leather to be worked up and simultaneously conveying the leather through the machine. At the free end of the left sided pivot 6 (Fig. 3) a toothed wheel 8 is positioned gearing finto a smaller toothed wheel I0 positioned on a shaft 9. On the other side of the respective support I a worm-wheel II is mounted on the shaft -3, and the worm I2 of the gear is y positioned on the shaft of an electomotor I3 fasvided with several strong reinforcing ledges I1; n

tened to the support. By this vmotor which may be provided with a circuit-closing and circuitwhich have as shown in Fig. 6 the shape of bell crank levers, which cheeks are connected in each frame at their front portions by ledges 20a, 2Ia, 22a, contain in their horizontal side-pieces the bearings for rollers 23, 24 and 25 of which the roller 24 serves for the feeling o f the leather to be passed between the said roller and the cylinder 1.

The rollers 23 and 25 have the purpose of pressing breaking switch and also with a device for regulating the speed the cylinder 1 is driven prefer-I ably in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4.

In. co-operation with the cylinder 'I are the measuring and printing devices I4, one of which is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 in an enlarged scale. In Fig.. 3 three of such aggregates are diagrammatically illustrated, but their number is optional The number depends upon the desired rapidity and exactness of the operation of the machine. In case a` hide has to be marked in the desired manner already in a single passage, as many aggregates I4 are necessary as transverse rows a (Figs. 1 and 2) for the lirnprinting of the values to be measured are desired. In the case that customers are satisfied with passing the hide several times through the machine, the number of the measuring and printing aggregates may be correspondingly decreased.

The aggregates I4`Jare adapted to be shifted in a dovetail guide I5 which is provided in the transverse brace 2, and which extends in the whole length thereof. According to Fig. 3 the cheeks of the guide I5 are connected witheach other at two points by transverse ledges I6, I6 to increase the strength of the said cheeks. Also the traversing brace 2 is of a strong construction and prothe brace is furtherconnectedY by screws with the leather portions near the measuring roller 24 forcibly against the supporting cylinder 'I and to keep the leather in this way in a smooth condition, so that the distance of the measuring roller 24 from the cylinder 1 is always an exact measure of the thickness of the leather at the respective point. During the operation of the machine also the measuring roller 24 must lie close to the leather under a certain pressure. The rollers are pressed against the counter-surface by coil d springs of which only one isvillustrated at 26 of Fig. 6 for a better'clearness of the drawing. The spring is fixed with its one end to a cross-bar 21 connecting with each other the upper ends of the two vertical side-pieces 28 of each of the oscillating frames 20, 2i, 22. Theother end of the spring is connected with a screw 29 passing through a rail 30, and-having at its exterior end a winged nut 3| by the tightening of which the tension of the spring is regulated. 'I'he rail 33 which is supposed to .be broken off in Fig. 5 forms the connecting ledge of a horizontally arranged bent piece the side parts of which are fastened to the upper corners of the slide I4a.

For the purpose of clearing the rollers 23, 24 and 25 away from the leather or from the cylinder 1 a device is provided which renders possible a clockwise rotation of the oscillating frames carrying the rollers (Fig. 6). 'I'his is effected by means of a hand-lever 32rwhich is positioned on a shaft 33 extending transversely above the slide I4a, and having its bearings in the side portions of the rail 30, the lower arm 34 of the saidvhand-lever being connected by a rodI 35 with the transverse bar 21 of. the appertaining oscillating frame 20. On the shaft 33 two other levers 35 corresponding with the lever-arm 34 are positioned which levers influence the cross-bar 21 of the oscillating frames for the rollers 24 and 25. The upperv arm of the lever 32 is provided with an oblong aperture 31 into which the laterally projecting pin 38 of a bolt 33 fits which is guided in ears 40, 43 of a support 4I positioned oh the left sideportion of the piece 30, which bolt 39 is adapted to-catch into apertures 42 provided in a corresponding level in the upper cheek I5a of the slideway, so that the slide may be locked'in the respective position relatively to the slide-way.

In the slide-block I4a two vertical plates 44, 44 are fastened in a small distance from each other preferably by screws to a vertical transverse ledge of corresponding thickness which is integral by casting to the slide-block. These'two plates principally servel as bearings of three' rollers 45 46 on the leather.

and 41 of which only the upper roller 41 is illustrated in Fig. for the reason of simplifying the drawing. The rollers 45, 46 and 41 serve for the reception of an endless band 48 which in the illustrated embodiment forms a stencil-band which is provided in certain regular distances with perforations representing` numerals o1' other marks of the thicknesses to be measured. For marking for instance neats leather the intervening values may be graduated in correspondence with the usual thicknesses from 2 to 10 millimetres. In this connection intervening values of 0,2 millimetre may for instance be provided. As shown in Fig. 6 the stencil-band is in close proximity of the surface to the leather near the point at which the measuring roller 24 touches the leather. By depressing a stamp which either carries a colour-padding or cooperates with a colour-band` arranged above the stencil-band the numeral of the stencil-band being for the time at the measuring point is printed The details of this device are described further below. l

For a continual conformation of the level of the stencil-band to the thickness of the leather, this means for a close passage of the band above the surface of the leather in a constant distance at varying thickness two special small guiding rollers 48a. are provided the bearings of which are not fast as the bearings of the rollers 45, 46,

'41= but adapted to take part in the movement plate 44 and engages a bent portion of the transverseledge of the piece 50. -Springs 54, 54 are -"prvided the lower ends of whichiare supported by respective guiding ears 5|, and the upper ends of which lie close to a flange 55 -of 'the sidepieces 45|V of the piecel 50, and by the said springs the piece 50, and with it the guiding rollers 48a arefor'ced upwards, so that the'horizontally directed portion of the stencil-band 48 between the said guiding rollers takes inthe upwardly and downwardly directed movement ofthe pin 52 and of the measuring roller 24. For continually tightening the stencil-band the bearings of the rol1ers.45 and 46 are guided in horizontal slots 56, 56, in which they areforced outwards by springs 51, 51. In the case that a special colour-band56 passing. closely.,above the lower part of the stencil-bandis employed, as mentioned above, the colour-band is not only guided by the rollers 48a, but also by two other rollers which are mounted on the upper corner of the piece of the oscillating frame 2| for the measuring roller 24 (Fig. 5). The curvature of the .smoothing roller 25.

toothed segment 63 corresponds with an arc the center of which is the axis of the shaft I9. In this way the rocking movement of the frame carrying the measuring roller 24 and also the upwardly and downwardly directed movements of the said roller, which movements correspond with the variations of thicknesses of the leather displaced below the said roller are transformed into a rectilinear movementjof the stencil-band 48 with the ratio of thev gears 59, 6|, 62, 63. This band is adjustedY relatively to the point in which the measuring roller 24touches the leather, this means relatively to thepoint of imprintment in such a way that' of the several numerals forming perforations in the stencil-band the numeral corresponding with the respective value of thickness will coincide with the said point. By subsequently depressing byl means of a suitable marking or tapping de'vice the' ,mentioned colourband passing above the stencil-band and between the guide-rollers 48a the respective numeral is imprinted on the leather. This imprinting is not executed exactly at the measuring point which is touched by the roller 24, but this small lateral deviation is not of practical importance.

In Figs. and 11 a portion of the employed stencil-band isillustrated, and Fig. 10 shows the band for an execution of the method according to Fig. 1, whereas Fig. 11 shows a band which preferably is employed in the case that the leather is imprinted according to the method shown in Fig. 2.V y

The printing device is particularly illustratedL-in Figs. 1 and 8 in a side-view and a front-view.' It is assumed that the printing device is fixed to the left sidepiece of the oscillating frame of the smoothing roller (Fig. 5) ,pas thesaid vprinting device must take part in the upwardly anddownwardly directed movements Aof the stencil-band relatively to the leather. The printing devicev might also be fixed to the right vside-ipiec'e of the oscillating frame of the measuring roller 24. vboth cases the respective plate 44 must be provided with an opening through which the 'guiding parts positioned on the side-piece 2| may y extend into the space of the printing 'devicebetwerlthe two plates 44. In Fig. 5f`v,the printing'devig-pis left out for the purpose of .a better clearnessof the drawing. As shown in Figsr'l andv8 the printing device comprises a stem 66prov`ided on its' lower end with a yielding` paddingiS, which stem'is guided in three ears 61 iix'edztol the 'oscillating Between the two upper eai's61-,Ltw'o coiled springs 68, 69 are arranged ofwhich the frame 2 upper one is supported at it"s1owerjend] by Va flange 10. Below the intermediate ear 6 1 awprojection 1| is provided projecting` laterally @from the stem 66, which projection co-operates with a cam wheel 12 .positioned on the 'axis' 13 of the In the present case 'the wheel 12 is provided with five cam'sfso that at each revolution of the roller 25the stem 66 is lifted five times, and after the respective .cam has passed the projection 1| the said stein is always urged downwards by the spring 68, whereby in co-operation with the stencil-band 48 the r imprinting is executed on the leather. After the imprinting the stem is lifted somewhat by the lower spring `69.v By substituting a camwheel with a larger or smaller numb'er of cams the number of imprintings for each revolution and with the distance of the prints in the transverse lines aV (Fig. 1) may be altered at will.

As shown in Fig. 10 the values of thicknesses provided in the rst case,

on the stencil-band are graduated with a divergence of 0,2 millimetre. Above the stencilband a screen 14 is preferably provided the windowof which has a breadth (in the direction of the movementI of the band) Which is about 11/2 times the distance of the numerals on the band. Preferablythe stencil is provided on its margin with a triangular perforation 15 which designates the exact level of the point of measurement and which is imprinted on the leather. Further the apertures 16 between two numerals produce on the leather points beside the imprinted numerals. From the distance of these points nearest to the mark 15 the exact measuring record lying between the two printed numerals Amay be ascertained by interpolation. The apertures 'I6 may simultaneously serve for the engagement by driving pins provided on the roller 41Whichpins ensure the positive drive of the stencil-band by the roller 41.

Preferably the roller 41 is not absolutely fast on its shaft 58 but is tted on the shaft under high friction, so that a mutual rotary movement is possible. For ,facilitating this rotary movement the shaft 58'is for the purpose lengthened beyond the right bearing plate 44 (Fig.' 5) and is at that end four-edged to apply a wrench or key thereon. By rotation of the shaft 58 relatively to the roller 41 the measuring and printing device may necessarily be adjusted either :for levelling down inaccuracies arising in the displacement of the slide I4a or for other causes or for accommodating by a compensating displacement of the stencil-band to the fact that, as mentioned above the points of imprintment do not correspond exactly with the measuring points.

In Fig. 9 a. printing device is illustrated which is principally provided for a distribution of the points of imprinting according to Fig. 2 but which may also be used for the distribution according to Fig. 1. Here the imprinting is executed by electromagnetic means. The stem 66 iforms the core of a solenoid 18 which is xed to the oscillating frame 22. The stem is afterwards forced upwards by a spring-19. In the circuit of the coil of the solenoid beside a battery 8| a ilxed contact 82 is provided which is closed by contact strips (Fig. 11) assoon as during the travel of the band one of the 'strips passes the rst-mentioned contact. The contact strips are for instance arranged on'theband in distances` corresponding with the mutual distances of the numerals of the stencil, and the rst-mentioned xed contact is arranged in such a way that the circuit is closed and through this effect the stem 66 pressed upon'the stencil-band, as soonas one 0f the numerals appears on the level of the point of measurement. By occasioning that near the end of its downward motion the stem 66 opens an additional contact in the circuit it is easily achieved that the depressing of the stem only takes' place instantaneously, so that also in the case that the thickness of the leather passing the machine should not vary during a certain period no daubing of the stencil-imprints may take place. The colour band may be of different colour for the printing implements acting in the different `zones (rear part or butt, true part of the back, neck), so that imprints of the measured values result which are on the respective parts of the leather of diierent colour. Also in the case that the length of the colour-band 58 is adjusted to tli'e operative portionof the stencil-band this means to the portion of the band occupied by numerals, one section of the colour-band may 92 by the intermediary'of a spring 9|.

aragon;

have a colour diierent from that of the other section, for instance the section corresponding with the portion of the stencil-band occupied by the numerals 2 to 3 may be of black, and the remaining section may be of blue colour. Correspondingly the low measured values are printed in black colour, and the high values in blue colour,

such printing resulting in the above mentioned different marking of the zones of the belly and the back as the values of thicknesses on the belly are generally smaller than those on the back.

After all in the working up of complete halves it is naturally not necessary to feel the leather in lines which are directed transversely to the vertebral line; the point of measurement and imprinting may on the contrary also be arranged in lines which are parallel to the vertebral line or form with it an angle of more or less pronounced acuteness, this being especially the case for the distribution of the points of measurement shown in Fig. 1. This is especially desirable for the working up of especially large pieces of leather which are not easy to handle in the case that the passage through the machine is directed transversely to the vertebral line.

The leather is worked up in such a way that for instance half a hide is `fed with the belly portion in front between the cylinder 1 and a counter-cylinder designated in Fig. 4 with 1a, the said counter-cylinder being for the purpose positively driven with a con esponding velocity, so that the half hide is brought by the cylinders underneath the rollers of the measuring and printing aggregates I4. Thereby the measuring of the thickness and the printing of the measured values is executed in transverse lines a the number of which corresponds with the number of the actual aggregates. In the case that there are as many aggregates as measuring lines are desired a halt` of a hide is readily marked after a single passage through the machine. In the case, however, that the machine is equipped with a smaller number of aggregates I4, the leather must correspondingly pass the machine repeatedly, the passages being executed one after the other, and every passage after a lateral displacement of the aggregates.

'I'he new method is naturally not confined to the working up of leather but can also be used for other sheet material, such as `for instance for pasteboard, sheet metal'and the like. In the case of an especially stift` and more or less undulated materiall it might be preferable not to use as support for the material an undivided vand uninterrupted cylinder or the like but as shown in Fig. 12 to provide for each measuring roller 24 a particular counter-roller 81 the bear- -ing of which forms a rigid unit with the carrier of the measuring roller. In the embodiment according to Fig. 12 the rollers 24 and 81 are mounted at the ends of the shanks of a casting 88 which corresponds in shape with the frame of plate-shears, the said casting being. adapted to swing at its opposite end about a shaft 89 which is mounted in a. bearing 90. With the free end of its lower shank the body 88'rests on a support A considerable reduction of the upwardly and downwardly directed movements of the body 88 by the weight of its front part carrying the measuring and printing device is avoided by a cour.- ter-weight 83. 'I'he measuring and printing device I4 may substantially be constructed in accordance with the corresponding device of the rst embodiment described above. In correspondfen'ce with the vertical guide of the measuring roller 24 the `transformation of the measuring movement into the shifting movement of the stencil-band 48 is effected by means of a rack 84 on the vertically bearing 93 of the roller 24, which rack gears into `a pinion 95 of the driving roller 41 of the stencil-band 48 which is held by the rollers 45 and 46 in a horizontal position and in a tightened condition above the leather 96 introduced between the rollers 24 and 81. The leather is preferably with its belly-portion in front again passed between the rollers 24 and 81 by means of rollers 91.

Also in this case either as many measuring and printing aggregates, each in connection with a body 88, may be provided as there are measuring lines for the leather, or a smaller number may be provided. In the last case the leather must after each passage be laterally displaced relatively to the aggregates for a distance corresponding to that of the measuring lines.

'I'he measuring and marking device illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14 generally corresponds with the devices illustrated in the Figs; 6 and 5. The reference-characters of corresponding parts are the same. An essential difference consists in that the frame 61 on which the auxiliary guide-roll- .ers 48a for the measuring or marking band 48 are mo'unted is not positively driven by the carrier 2| of the feeler-roller 24 at the downward movement of the latter, but is driven through the intermediary of a spring 53 (Fig. 13) acting on the one hand upon the intermediate transverse ledge 61a of the frame 61 and on the other hand upon a pin 52 which extends through an opening in the left-sided plate 44 (Fig. 14), and is rmly connected with the right-sided plate of the frame or of the bell-crank lever 2| of the feeler-roller 24. A second pin 52a mounted on the left side-piece of the right-sided bell-crank lever 28 of the smoothing roller 25 extends through an opening |58 in the right-sided plate 44 and reaches below the intermediate ledge 61a of the frame 61. The purpose of this arrangement is the. following: When passing the leather or the like to be marked-in the machine it may occur that for instance on the left side the leather passes with its left margin by the smoothing roller 23 and the feeler-roller 24, so that the mentioned rollers are therefore in their lowest position, whereas the marking device and the right-sidedsmoothing roller 25 are on the level corresponding with the thickness of the leather. This would not be possible with respect of themarking device in the case of a direct connection of the frame of the latter and also of the frame forming the bearing of the auxiliary guide-rollers 48a with the bell-crank levers carrying the feeler-roller 24 or the respective .smoothing roller 25 as in the case of the embodiment described above.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 13 and 14 the marking stamp 66 is not guided in a special frame as in the embodiment .described above, but in the contrary the frame 61 carrying the auxiliary guide-rollers 48a simultaneously serves for the guide of the stamp 66. The frame 61 is guided between four rollers or pins 54 (Fig. 13) which are arranged in corresponding relative distances between the plates forming the bell-crank lever 2| 'of the rst embodiment. These plates and also the corresponding plates of the bell- Acrank levers 28 forming the bearings of the smoothing rollers 23 and 25 are rigidly connected with each other by bolts |59. The springs 68 and 69 the arrangement of whichis the same as in the embodiment described above, are left out in Fig. 14 for increasing the clearness.l The marking bandv 48 consists in the present case of rubber of such an elasticity that the lower division of the band travelling across the leather may be lowered by the auxiliary guide-rollers 48a without the application of yieldable bearings for the guide-rollers 45, 46. Theband 48 is provided with outwardly projecting numerals corresponding with the measure-values to be printed and is further provided with va graduation of measurement (Fig. 22). The band passes by a tinging roller |55 opposite to the guide-roller 46, to which roller |55 the colour is fed from a colour-roller |56. The roller. 45 is for the purpose continually pressed' 'under a slight pressure against the band 48. 'Atthe lower end of the marking stamp 66 apressurehplatc` 65 is provided having on its one side a fprojection 65a (Fig. 14) the cross-section of which corresponds with the mark designated in Fig. 22 with 65h, and the length and thickness of which projection corresponds lwith the thickness of the typeband 48. If in the manner described above the stamp 66 moves under the influence of the spring 68 with a jerk downwardly at the snapping of the driver 1| off the respective cam of the cam-disc 12, the type-band 48 is pressed upon the leather, so that the printing is effected at the point of the type-band positioned for the time below the printing plate. Simultaneously the mark 65h (Fig. 22) is printed on the leather by the projection 65a.' of the printing plate, which projection may also be coloured on its lower side or for which a special colour-band may be provided, this printing being effected on the leather at the continually xed point lying in a small iixed distance from the actually measured point of the touch of the feeler-roller 24 with the leather. The lower side of that part 61h of the frame which contains the bearing for the auxiliary roller 48 is closed without taking account of a rectangular opening 51 (Fig. 22). Correspondingly only that portion of the type-band 48 is printed. which corresponds with this opening. The imprinted characters of the type-band are drawn in Fig. 22 with full lines, whereas the characters which are not imprinted are illustrated in dotted lines. From Fig. 22 it is obvious that it is in this way without a great ratio of transmission possible conveniently to read in the gear transforming the strokes of the feeler-roller or measuring roller 24 into the shifting movement of the type-band 48 fractions of the measured values designated by numerals. In the present case the measuring numbers are graduated from ve to five tenths of a millimetre, and the distances between the measuring numerals are also graduated from five to ve tenths of a millimetre. The simultaneously printed xed mark 65h then indicates for instance that the exact measured value is in the case of Fig. 22 about 2,4 millimetres.

In the zero-position of the type-band 48 in which no measuring takes place the measure-numeral zero is below the marking plate 65. During the measuring the band 48 is displaced, as mentioned, in correspondence with the thickness of the leather, and in the present case the said displacement takes place in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 13. Thereby the band 48 only passes with those numerals by the tinging roll- ,er |55 which in the zero-position of the band (in the direction of the travel of the band) are Cil ` is no leather in the machine.

in front of the tinging roller. In order to provide also for a colouring of the group of numerals between this point and the point of marking or at least of the numerals of said group which represent higher 4values a cavity |51 is fraised out-of the counter-cylinder 1 oppositelir to the measuring roller 24, into which cavity the said roller 24 may dip in the case that there In correspondence with such a lowering beyond the zero-position also the type-band 48 is displaced beyond its zero-position, this means that also the numerals which are ordinarily not touched by the tinging roller are tinged by the roller.

For a very thick leather full ofboils the rollers 23, 25 are under circumstances not suflicient to press the-leather in al flat condition towards `the counter-cylinder 1. In this case vspecial rollers 55 (Figs. 15 and 16) are additionally provided which are arranged in front of thev smoothing rollers and -mounted in bearings 55a which are displaceable in radial guides and pressed towards the cylinders 1 by strong springs 55o. The guides 55h vare arranged in cheeks 56 projecting from the part 2 of the frame to the front. In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 15 and 16 the measuring and marking aggregates I4 are, however, rigidly connected with the part 2` of `the frame. In this case the right-sided smoothing roller (Fig. 14) may in each aggregate be dispensed with, and respectively the measuring roller 24 may directly be arranged adjacent the right side of the last-mentioned smoothing roller, so that the points o'f markingmay be brought closer together (in the direction of the axis of the cylinder).

In the embodiment according to the Figs. 1'1- 21 which is especially adapted for the treatment of a very thick and' stift leather and of leather full of boils the measuring and marking aggregates |4 are distributed in a great number over a plate |03 (Figs. 1'1 and 18) forming .an intervening space |01 in combination with a plate |02 arranged underneath it and supported by a frame the said height of the said intervening space being only somewhat greater than the greatest thickness of the leather or the like to be measured. The goods to be measured are slipped into this slot |01, and the measuring and marking is effected by lowering the measuring and marking elements until they touch the surface of the leather. In order to provide for-a .piston through the bores of which ears guiderods ||3 pass which are fastened in the embasements |08. The piston is forced upwards by springs ||4 arranged below the ears ||2 and coiled around the rods ||3. From each of the embasements |08 two pedestals ||5 and a bear-4 ing ||5a project upwardly, and to these parts the base-plate ||6 of a frame is screwed.- the standards H1, ||8 of which serve as bearings' for the shaft 58 of the disc 41 and for .the shaft 60 of the toothed wheel 6|. 6| is as inthe case described above in gear with a pinion 59 of the shaft 58, and a pinion 62 on 'upwards and downwards.

The toothed wheel the shaft 60 gears with a rack H9 forming the upper end of a spindle |20. This spindle carryving at its lower end a piston I2| corresponding vwith the measuring and feeling roller 24 of the embodiment described before is guided on the one hand in the hollow piston and on the other hand in such a way that a roller |34 mounted in the standards |1, |8) presses it towards the pinion 62. A spring |22 provided in the cavity of the piston forces the feelerpiston |2| downwardly. On the rod |20 a driver having the shape of a disc |24 is guided on the hub-portion of which -two pivots |25 are provided being in engagement with two oblong apertures of a forked lever |26 positioned on a shaft |21 which is mounted in a support ll5a. As shown 'in Fig. 19 this shaft extends across the respective row of aggregates in the transverse direction, and as indicated in Fig. 19 for the left-sided aggregate in the front the said shaft carriesrfor each aggregate a lever |28 connected with a rod |30 through the intermediary of a pivot ||9. By a mechanism which is not illustrated in the drawings and which may for instance consist of a cam shaft or 'an eccentric shaft driven by a motor the rods |30 are subjected to a reciprocating motion, so that the levers |26 and with them the discs |24 are to a certain extent moved The disc or driver |24 may through-the intermediary of a spring |3| infiuence the piston and may through the intermediary of a second spring |33 of smaller strength influence a second driver |32 which is also guided on the rod |20. The downwardly directed movement of the rods is limited. by a flange The driver |32 serves for the actuation of the marking piston (Fig. 21) which is guided in a bore arranged eccentrically to the bore provided inthe piston and receiving the feelerpiston |2I, which marking piston extends with` its stem |34 into the upper cavity of the piston |.l The upper end of the stem |34 is in the reach of the driving disc |32, 'so that at a lowering of the said disc the piston |35 is moved downwards against the influence of a spring |36 tending to move the said piston upwardly, through downward motion of the piston |35 the characters provided on the type-band 48 are imprinted upon the leather, the said type band passing underneath the piston.

In Figs. 20 and 21 the respective parts of the machine are illustrated with the smoothing and feeling piston in the completely lowered position in the case that the thickness of the goods in the present case also again yieldable passes through a groove provided in the smoothing piston and below the printing piston |35 and passes two guide-rollers 45, 46 mounted in openings |31 of the plate |03.and further passes two other guide-rollers |39 mounted on Supports |38 and the disc 41. With the guide-rollers |39 tinging rollers |40 and colour-rollers |4| cooperate, only one element of each group of rollers |40 and |4| being illustrated in Figs. 20 and 21.

The operation is the following:

The drivers |24 of all aggregates are lowered v.after the feeding-inof the leather or the like, into the slot |01,which feeding-in is preferably accomplished by pairs of rollers arranged in front of the front opening of the slot and driven by a motor. The lowering of the drivers is accomto be measured is nought. The band 48 being plished by pulling the rods |30 in the direction 75 of the above mentioned cams or eccentric discs which are not illustrated in the drawings. The

disc |24 of each aggregate exerts at its downward motion through the intermediary of the spring |3| a pressure on the piston by which the leather is pressed at the respective point towards the counterplate |02 with a pressure corresponding with the strength of the spring |3|. Before the end of its downward motion the disc |24 also exerts through the intermediary of the spring |33 and of the drivers |32 a yielding pressure on the feeling or measuring stamp |2|, so that also the said stamp is pressedupon the leather. Shortly before the end of its downward stroke the driver |32 acts upon the rod |34 of the printing piston |35, which presses the type-band 48 towards the leather, so that the imprint of the measure-numeral of the thickness is effected in the manner described above. The return of the parts into their initial position is effected by springs |36, |3| and ||4.

`In order to avoid on the one hand an excessive stress on the driving mechanism effecting the lowering of the piston and on the other hand also an excessive strain on the plate |03 carrying the aggregates 4 it may be preferable that the pressure actions upon the discs |24 through the intermediary of the levers |26 are not effected all simultaneously but that the one pressure action is effected after the other, which object may be secured by a corresponding displacement of the cams or the like by which the rods |30 are moved.

. Instead of using the rods |30 and the levers |26 for pressing the discs |24 and with them the smoothing, measuring and marking pistons downwards, such action may also be effected in another way, for instance with the aidof the bolts |42 illustrated in the Figs. 17 and 18, a number of which bolts corresponding with the number of the aggregates project from the lower-side of a common plate |04 to come into engagement with the discs |24 at the lowering of the plate. The plate |04 is guided on four posts |05 and is lowered by means of a. hydraulic press |06 which may for instance be arranged on the ceilingof the respective room.

The machine described above is of great eiect, as by one operation which is the lowering of the plate |04-the same being naturally the case for the aggregates illustrated in Figs. 19-2l--all measurements and markings are effected simultaneously all over the leather-surface. Customers who are satised with a smaller effect may do away with the plates |03 and |04 and substitute for them transverse members provided with only one row or only a few rows of aggregates |4 and may feed the leather to be treated intermittently into the intervening space |01. The parts are arranged in such a way that at each downward movement of the transverse member a feed-action takes' place. In correspondence with the mode of treating mentioned above at the end of .the explanation referring to the embodiment according to Figs. 1-12 also only a single or a few rows of aggregates I4 extending in the transverse direction of the table (Figs. 17, 18) may be provided, and the leather be laterally displaced after each printing operation for a distance corresponding with the desired distance of j the rows a o f printing (Fig, 1).

The general construction of the machine as illustrated in Figs. 23 to 29 is substantially the same as in the earlier cases. In thepresent embodiment only six measuring and marking aggregates` areprovitied oigwhich only a single aggregate on the leftrendiotthe machineis shown in the drawings;whereast lij other aggregates are indicated by ...dotted linesl" The aggregates are again xedly on a cross-girder or traverse comprising two U-irons 204, 295. rThecarriers 2 Yof the measuring and smoothing rollers are not arranged tooscillate but tomove rectilinearly upwards and downwards. The carriers consist of four-edged rods of steel the lower ends of which are forked for the receptidn-of`rollers of which .in Fig. 25 only the left-sided rollers 203 are represented. For each measuring and marking aggregate only two carriers for the rollers and correspondingly also only two rollers are provided.

The carriers 20|, 202 for the rollers are guided between the two `Uirons 204, 205 extending over 'the whole Alength of the machne, said guiding bein special supports screwed to' the lower surfaces of the flanges of the U-irons., The carriers of the rollers are provided on top with inwardly directed projections 20| a, 202a` of which the ilrst rests upon the latter through-theintermedlary of an adjusting screw 20|b ori such a level-that the lowest part of the roller 2 03 is-positloned about 1 millimetre below the vertex of the roller of the carrier 202, which roller isfnot illustrated, the said roller 203 serving simultaneously for the smoothing or levelling of the leather at the point of measurement and also for the measuring proper. The purpose of this arrangement will be explained farther below. The pressing of the rollers towards the leather tol be treated is effected by two strong spiral springs 2|'l acting on the carriers 20|, 202 at their upper ends which are provided with centre-pivots 2|8, such springs abutting against a plate 2|9 screwed to the upper flanges of the U-irons 204, 205, the leather to be treated passing also a counter-roller as set forth above.

The guide of the carriers 20|, 202 at the lower ends is effected on the inside not by rollers corloose rollers 2|2, 2|3 for the purpose of making as much room as possible for the strong construction of the forked partsof the carriers 20|, 202

which parts are during the operation under circumstances very highly' strained. In this arrangement pressures exerted in the axial direction on one of the rollers, for instance cn lthe roller 203 are taken up throughthe intermediary of the respective carrier 20| and the rollers 2|2, 2| 3 by the other carrier 202 and are transmitted by this' carrier through the intermediary ofthe rollers 201 to the'frame of the machine. In this arrangement the rollers 2|2, 2|3 occupy in the axial direction a much smaller room than the rollers 208, 2| so that the forked parts of the carrier 20|, 202 may correspondingly be of a strong construction without the necessita'` of an enlargement of the distance between the point of measurement vand the point of markinu.. rollers 2|2, 2|31rol1- loosely betweenv the adlacent sides of thecarries 20|, 202. For the purpose of avoiding jamming ,this arrangement every roller is provided on top and bottom with two pairs of abutting springs'2l2a and 2|2b. The upper ends of the springs lean against the horizontal web 220e of a little frame 220 (Fig. 28a) which is mounted at 22017 on the support 20|, 

